Core Management Plan Including Conservation Objectives
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CYNGOR CEFN GWLAD CYMRU COUNTRYSIDE COUNCIL FOR WALES CORE MANAGEMENT PLAN INCLUDING CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES FOR MYNYDD EPYNT SITE OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST (SSSI) INCLUDING MYNYDD EPYNT SPECIAL AREA FOR CONSERVATION (SAC) Version: 1 Date: February 2008 Approved by: A Welsh version of all or part of this document can be made available on request. CONTENTS Preface: Purpose of this document 1. Vision for the Site 2. Site Description 2.1 Area and Designations Covered by this Plan 2.2 Outline Description 2.3 Outline of Past and Current Management 2.4 Management Units 3. The Special Features 3.1 Confirmation of Special Features 3.2 Special Features and Management Units 4. Conservation Objectives Background to Conservation Objectives 4.1 Conservation Objective for Feature 1: Varnished hook-moss Hamatocaulis vernicosus (EU Habitat Code: 1393) 4.2 5. Assessment of Conservation Status and Management Requirements: 5.1 Conservation Status and Management Requirements of Feature 1: Varnished hook-moss Hamatocaulis vernicosus (EU Habitat Code: 1393) 6. Action Plan: Summary 7. Glossary 8. References 2 PREFACE This document provides the main elements of CCW’s management plan for the sites named. It sets out what needs to be achieved on the sites, the results of monitoring and advice on the action required. This document is made available through CCW’s web site and may be revised in response to changing circumstances or new information. This is a technical document that supplements summary information on the web site. One of the key functions of this document is to provide CCW’s statement of the Conservation Objectives for the relevant Natura 2000 sites. This is required to implement the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994, as amended (Section 4). As a matter of Welsh Assembly Government Policy, the provisions of those regulations are also to be applied to Ramsar sites in Wales. 3 1. VISION FOR THE SITE This is a descriptive overview of what needs to be achieved for conservation on the site. It brings together and summarises the Conservation Objectives (part 4) into a single, integrated statement about the site. Sufficient wetland habitat to support a viable population of varnished hook-moss, Hamatocaulis vernicosus is being maintained at this site. Suitable habitat for the moss of mildly base-rich spring-fed flushes where the water table is at or close to the surface for most of the year, occurs at all six locations at Mynydd Epynt. The flushes can be recognised within the six locations by the short sward of small sedges such as carnation sedge, star sedge and common sedge growing amongst the ‘brown moss’ carpets where rushes or bog mosses Sphagnum spp. are not dominant. The flushes are well grazed by sheep so that they retain their open nature and there are no woody shrubs present as these would shade out the moss. Factors, which could affect the hydrology and water chemistry of the flushes, are under control. In addition, at least 2.5 ha of suitable dry acid grassland habitat dominated by sheep’s fescue and common bent grasses with heath bedstraw scattered through is maintained at Disgwylfa, which supports a rich variety of grassland fungi, including fairy clubs, earth-tongues and at least twenty types of waxcap. The sward is kept short throughout the year by sheep grazing and the grassland is managed without the addition of fertilisers. 4 2. SITE DESCRIPTION 2.1 Area and Designations Covered by this Plan Grid reference(s): SN858351, SN883401, SN920400, SN996437, SO009444 and SO015440 Unitary authority(ies): Powys County Council Area (hectares): 43.4 ha Designations covered: Mynydd Epynt SAC and Mynydd Epynt SSSI – latter includes land at Disgwylfa which is not SAC. Detailed maps of the designated sites are available through CCW’s web site: http://www.ccw.gov.uk/interactive-maps/protected-areas-map.aspx For a map showing the coverage of this document please see attached Unit Map. 2.2 Outline Description Mynydd Epynt SAC/SSSI comprises 6 separate blocks of land situated within the Sennybridge MOD Ranges between Halfway Forest and Cwm Owen in the Brecknock District of Powys. All of the blocks include spring-fed flushes supporting the SAC Feature of Interest, with Disgwylfa also supporting the additional SSSI Feature, namely the assemblage of grassland fungi in particular, waxcap species. 2.3 Outline of Past and Current Management The SAC/SSSI lies within a large area known as Mynydd Epynt, which is upland in character. It is bisected in the south by small river valleys, which have been the focal areas for past settlement, as evidenced by old field patterns and farmsteads. In the early 1940’s 34,000 acres were taken over by the Ministry of Defence as Sennybridge Training Area and since then the grazing rights of tenants have been retained although the people who owned farms in the area before the 1940’s were evicted from many of the farmsteads. This along with the needs of the Army to provide a robust accessible substrate on which to train, to provide an income and to support local communities has resulted in most of the area now being unfenced and grazed extensively by sheep. The Gamrhiw section is subject to a short-term tenancy whilst all other areas form part of the main Range subject to annual grazing licence arrangements (currently 38,000 sheep per annum licensed). No foddering is permitted. Where it does occur it is discouraged. No information is available on grazing levels for any individual part of the open grazings of the range. Hefted flocks are present and changes in the licensed grazing numbers of individual grazers may well at least temporarily be reflected in the intensity of grazing of particular areas. In the past elsewhere on the Range open ditches have been dug to increase drainage and to improve grazing quality. No plans exist for further work. Bracken, thistles and gorse are kept in check by mowing and the use of herbicides. No proposals exist for such treatment within the SSSI except at Disgwylfa where bracken control is required. 5 Diverse forms of military training take place, zoned across the training area. The Blaen Talar section alone occurs within the impact area. The impact area of the range receives various types of armament projectiles. Blaen Talar, not being in line of sight from any of the existing observation posts is never actively targeted. Nor is it close enough to any small arms ranges to receive any significant shrapnel etc. There is little evidence of recent disturbance from munitions in this section of the valley. The section north of Llyn Login has within it a defensive training position. Infantry movements occur frequently, though largely in an area remote from known sites for the golden feather moss. Small-scale plastic explosive charges have caused limited local damage to areas of peaty flush in part of this section. The position and intensity of current and recent past usage is considered sustainable but will require regular surveillance. The Journey’s End section lies to the west of a concentration of small arms ranges. A small night training assault course has developed to the north east of this area. If accessed via the SSSI, localized trampling may be damaging. This facility will be evaluated and probably shut down by the MOD. Otherwise this area sees little troop movement. The Offeriad and Gamrhiw sections also lie in the dry training area and show no signs of damage or disturbance from past military use. Current low-density troop movement on foot over these areas presents no significant threat. The Disgwylfa section lies adjacent to the Range Conservation Centre and is traversed by a track forming part of a circular walk for the public. Military use is extensive but not of a nature likely to damage either the moss or fungal interest. Visitors are confined to the track. 2.4 Management Units The plan area has been divided into management units to enable practical communication about features, objectives, and management. This will also allow us to differentiate between the different designations where necessary. In this plan the management units have been based on the separate land areas (as they are so far apart) but also taking account of the separate tenancies, which cover each separate parcel. It is assumed that there is a measure of hefting with different tenants’ sheep mostly grazing the area around where they are released onto the open hill. Thus, all parcels have been allocated a separate Management Unit number except for Llyn Login/Blaen Offeriad, which has been placed in the same MU because they are closer geographically to each other than the others and share a common tenancy holder. A map showing the management units referred to in this plan is attached separately. The following table confirms the relationships between the management units and the designations covered: Unit SAC SSSI CCW owned Other number Mynydd Epynt 1 a a 2 a a 3 a 4 a a 5 a a 6 a a 6 3. THE SPECIAL FEATURES 3.1 Confirmation of Special Features Designated feature Relationships, nomenclature etc Conservation Objective in part 4 SAC features Annex II species present as a EU Habitat code: 1393 qualifying feature and a primary This site is considered to be one of reason for site selection: the best areas in the United 1. Hamatocaulis vernicosus, Kingdom for this species. It is also a 1 varnished hook-moss qualifying SSSI feature of interest. SPA features Not applicable Ramsar features Not applicable SSSI features 2. Assemblage of grassland fungi One of the best sites in Brecknock. Not written including more than 20 waxcap species.